Shar’i Evidence for the Humanity of the Noble Prophet ﷺ
Source: Fatawa al-Deen al-Khalis, Vol. 1, p. 77
Question:
Is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made of light (Noor), as claimed by the Barelvi school of thought?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a human being (bashar), not a being of light (Noor). This belief is clearly established through the Qur’an, authentic Hadith, scholarly consensus (Ijma’), and sound reasoning.
Evidences from the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ has clearly stated in multiple places in the Qur’an that the Prophet ﷺ was a human being:
➊ Surah Al-Kahf:
﴿قُل إِنَّما أَنا۠ بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يوحىٰ إِلَىَّ﴾ (18:110)
"Say: I am only a man like you, to whom revelation has been sent."
➋ Surah Al-Anbiya:
﴿وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ﴾ (21:34)
"We did not grant everlasting life to any human being before you."
➌ Surah Yusuf:
﴿وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحى إِلَيهِم﴾ (12:109)
"We did not send before you any but men from the people of the towns to whom We revealed."
➍ Surah Ar-Ra’d:
﴿وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا رُسُلًا مِن قَبلِكَ وَجَعَلنا لَهُم أَزوٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً﴾ (13:38)
"We certainly sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring."
These verses are conclusive proofs that the Prophet ﷺ was a human being, not Noor.
Evidences from the Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ himself clarified his humanity in many authentic narrations:
The Prophet ﷺ said:"إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَخُذُوا بِهِ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ رَأْيِي، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ"
"I am only a human being. When I instruct you regarding your religion, then accept it. But when I give you my opinion, then know that I am a human being."
(Sahih Muslim: 2361)
When A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) was asked about what the Prophet ﷺ would do at home, she replied:"كَانَ بَشَرًا مِنَ الْبَشَرِ يَفْلِي ثَوْبَهُ، وَيَحْلُبُ شَاتَهُ، وَيَخْدُمُ نَفْسَهُ"
"He was a human being among humans—he would remove lice from his clothes, milk his goat, and serve himself."
(Shama'il al-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 23)
The Prophet ﷺ said:"إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ أَنْسَى كَمَا تَنْسَوْنَ"
"I am only a human being like you; I forget just as you forget."
(Sahih Muslim: 572)
These narrations explicitly show that the Prophet ﷺ affirmed his humanity. Had he been Noor, he would not have made such statements.
Consensus of the Ummah
The scholars of Islam have unanimously agreed that all Prophets were humans, not beings of light.
Imam Al-Alusi (رحمه الله) said:"To believe that the Prophet ﷺ is not a human but rather Noor is completely against the Qur’an and Sunnah, and whoever holds such a belief is misguided."
(Ruh al-Ma’ani, Vol. 4, p. 113)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:"The Prophet ﷺ was a complete human being, and his excellence was despite his humanity."
(Majmu’ al-Fatawa, Vol. 11, p. 96)
Refutation of the Barelvi Belief
The Barelvi claim that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor has no valid evidence to support it.
Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz (رحمه الله) stated:"The belief of the Barelvis that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor is absolute misguidance and an innovation."
(Fatawa Bin Baz, Vol. 1, p. 312)
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) stated:"To call the Prophet ﷺ Noor is contrary to the Qur’an and Sunnah, for Allah Himself said that he is a human being."
(Majmu’ al-Fatawa, Vol. 3, p. 226)
❖ Conclusion
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a human being, not a being of light.
This belief is supported by:
✔ The Qur’an
✔ Authentic Hadith
✔ Consensus of the Ummah
✔ Sound Reason
The Barelvi claim that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor is false, misguided, and a clear innovation.
Anyone who denies the humanity of the Prophet ﷺ is in fact rejecting the Qur’an and Sunnah.
We therefore invite our Barelvi brothers to turn sincerely toward the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah and abandon this innovated belief.
❖ References:
Sahih Muslim Sahih Bukhari Tafsir Ibn Kathir Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah Ruh al-Ma’ani Fatawa Bin Baz
